Method and machine for making and collapsing paper boxes



April 14, 1942.

M. H. SIDEIBOTHAM ETAL 53 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND GOLLAPSINGPAPER BOXES Filed Nov. 27, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1942- M. H.SIDEBOTHAM ET AL 2,279,534 v METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING ANDCOLLAPSING PAPER BOXES Filed NOV. 2.7, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 2 B W My April1942- M. H. SIDEBOTHAM ETAL 2,279,534

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND GOLLAPSING PAPER BOXES Filed Nov. 27,1940 5"Shee ts-Sheet 3 Ne/wh M .S/d'ebaf/mm, and Ross A. H/mes.

By/fodvMMWA/ff.

OLLAPSING 'PAPER BOXES 5 sheets-sheet 4 April 14, 1942. M. H. SIDEBOTHAMET AL METHOD AND MACHINE-FOR, MAKING AND 0 Filed NOV. 2'7, 1940 fmenfors,

Ne/w'n H. Sidebof/mm, and

Ross ,4. hfmes,

p 14, 1942- M. H. SIDEBOTHAM ETAL 2,279,534

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING AND COLLAPSING PAPER BOXES Filed Nov. 27,1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f d W e m m, W 0 z a m d M M Patented Apr. 14,1942 7 METHOD AND FOR MAKING AND COLLAPSING PAPER BOXES Melvin n.Sidebotham, West Newton, Mass., and

Ross A. Himes, Emeryville, Calif.

Application November 27, 1940, Serial No. 367,442

7 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of boxes of the type disclosedin patent #1,985,7'l9 issued December 25, 1934, to Ross A. Himes,entitled Paper box. Boxes of this type are commonly known as knock-downor wall boxes" which are furnished to the trade in flat or collapsedcondition, to save space in stock rooms and in stores where they are tobe used, and also for saving transportation costs. Such boxes are openedor set-up as they are needed for use, and have upright walls whenset-up. Boxes of this type are used for the packaging of eggs, bakerygoods, clothing and many other products, but it is to be understood thatwe do not limit ourselves to the manufacture of boxes for such specificuses.

Knock-down" boxes having walls which are not creased or scored, in orderto render them collapsible, are more difficult to make than boxes whichhave fold line across opposite wall sur- One of-the objects of ourinvention is to effect rapid production of knock-down wall boxes by asequence of operations, comprising the feeding of a cut and scored paperblank to a carrier, progressively advancing the blank to an adhesiveapplying device, then to a wall folding and flap securing mechanism, andthereafter collapsing.

the walls of the box to provide a box in flat folded condition.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent to persons skilled in'the art as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which we have'illustratedone practical embodiment of our invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a partial view at 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial section at 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a partial section at 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a partial section at I--l of Figure 1, showing the boxforming mechanism at the complption of the box forming cycle.

Figure 8 is a partial section at 8-8 of Figure 2, showing the boxforming mechanism at the completion of the box forming cycle.

Figure 9 is a partial section at 9-9 of Figure 2 showing the boxcollapsing mechanism just prior to the beginning of the box collapsingoperation.

Figure 10 is the same as Figure 9 except that the box collapsingmechanism is shown in the position taken after the box has beencollapsed, but with the folder plates still in contact with thecollapsed box.

Figure 11 shows the box collapsing folder plates withdrawn from contactwith the box after the box collapsing operation has been completed.

Figure 12 is a plan view of a prepared blank upon which the machineoperates to produce a after the first folding operation has beenperformed- Figure 15 is an edge view of the blank shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an end view of Figure 15. Figure 17 is a plan view showingthe condition of the blank after the side walls have been folded toupright position with the side wall extensions folded at right angles tothe corresponding side walls, and with the end walls bent upwardly.

Figure 18 is a front elevation of the box blank shown in Figure 17.

Figure 19 is an end view of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a plan view of the completed box in set-up condition.

Figure 21 is a front elevation of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is an end view of Figure 21.

v Figure 23 is a plan view of the box showing the condition thereofafter the box collapsing mechanism has started to operate on the box tocollapse the same.

Figure 24 is a front elevation of Figure 23.

Figure 25 is an end view of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a plan view showing the condition of the box just prior tothe completion of the box collapsing operation.

Figure 27 is a front elevation of Figure 26.

Figure 28 is a plan view showing the box in flat folded condition.

Figure 29 is a front elevation of Figure 28.

Itwill aid toward an understanding of the the drawings.

operation of the machine and of the method of fabricating the boxes, tofirst explain the action of the machine which effects the production ofcollapsed boxes from out and .scored blanks. Figure 12 illustrates a cutand scored blank wherein creased lines are indicated by dash linesmarked k, m, n, p, q, s, t and w, and cut lines are shown as fulllinesmarked 1', u and v. The said creased lines and cut lines effect adivision of the blank to form a bottom section a, side wall sections band c, end wallsections d and e, end

. wal1 extensions I, end wall extension flaps a, side wall extensions1', and side wall extension flaps h. Areas :1: and 11 shown in Figure 12are treated with adhesive as the blank is advanced under the adhesiveapplying roll I (Figs. 1 and 2). The blanks are then singly andsuccessively carried from the adhesive applying mechanism to the foldingand forming device which produces boxes with the walls thereof inupright position and which also secures the flap extensions to thecorresponding side walls of each box as shown in Figures 20, 21 and 22.From the forming and folding device the set-up box is advanced to thecollapsing mechanism which operates upon the walls of the box to foldthe same to flat folded condition ready to be instantly set up whenrequired for use.

The boxes are set up for use,-from collapsed condition, by simplyraising the side walls b and c, (Fig. 28) with the result that the wallextensions i (Fig. 22) will snap outward against the inside surfaces ofthe end walls, and the wall extensions (Fig. 21) will unfold against theoutside surfaces of the side walls.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, some of the positions of the blanks areindicated by dotted lines where the dotted numerals I2, 20, 2| and2'8appear. These dotted numerals are employed to illustrate that at thesepoints on the machine the blanks are in substantially the conditionsshown by corresponding Figures 12, 20, 21 and 28. The timing is suchthat when the machine is in operation, different parts of the machineoperate simultaneously on blanks which are spaced about as indicated bythe dotted line indications in Figures 1 and 2. In other words, whileone-part of the machine is performing an operation on one blank otherparts of the machine are at the same time performing other operations onother blanks and boxes, allof said blanks and boxes following oneanother progressively through the machine and are delivered therefrom ascomplete boxes in collapsed condition as shown in Figures 28 and 29.

It will be readily understood, without need of illustration, that anysuitable motor may be employed for operating the machine, and thatsuitable gearing is empoyed in practice to cause the various rolls andshafts to rotate at uniform peripheral speed to effect travel of theblanks through the machine and to operate the various devices which acton the blanks and the set-up boxes in the sequence described.

The accompanying drawings are in some respects diagrammatic, and aminimum of mechanical parts is shown in order to more clearly describewhat is believed to be new and novel subject matter of our invention. Inpractice it will be desirable to provide adjustment devices forproducing boxes of different sizes, but as many types of such mechanismsare known to the art, applicants have omitted their description from Itis to be understood that the drawings are illustrative of the inventionrather than limiting the same.

cal

described are delivered singly and successively from a feed table 3 to aconveyor belt 4 propelled by rolls 5 and 6 journaled in frame I. Theblanks are advanced by conveyor belt 4 to adhesive appads 9 to contactthe adhesively coated roll Ill joumaled in reservoir II. Said roll IIIis coated with adhesive by causing it to rotate in liquid adhesivecontained in reservoir II supported by frame I. The adhesively treatedblank is then carried forward, by conveyor belt 4, to the box formingandfolding mechanism. The box forming and folding mechanism comprises ashaper die I2 upon the top surface of which each adhesively treatedblank is positioned. Connected with the shaper die I2 is a pair offormer guides I3 provided with runways I4 (Figs. 1 and 8). A plunger I5mounted on guide bar I6 is operatively connected at runways I 4 toformer guide I3. Pivotally secured to the ends of guide bar I6 areconnecting links H, the lower ends of which are operatively secured tolevers I8 by means of pins I9. Said levers I8 are secured to shaft 20journaled in frame I. After the adhesively treated blank arrives inposition on the top of the shaper die I2, the plunger I5 is caused tocontact the bottom section a (Fig. 12) of the blank, whereupon the blankis forced downward, causing the side wall extensions 2' and the side-wall extension flaps h to contact fingers 2I (Figs. 5 and 6) which foldsaid extensions and flaps to vertical positions as shown in Figures 14,15 and n 16. As the said plunger I5 proceeds downward wall extensions ,1and end wall extension flaps g 21 and 28 secured to frame I.

are folded upward by contact with surfaces 23 (Fig. 6) and projections24 of the former die I2. It will be apparent that each blank in passingthrough the former die I2 will have its wall sections and extensionsections and flap extensions folded to provide a box in set-upcondition. In thus passing through the former die I2, the ad- 'hesivelytreated areas of the blank will be pressed against, and thus secured to,the corresponding wall sections and flap extensions, to provide acomplete box. The plunger I5 then presses the completed box through thelower open end of the former die I2 and deposits the box on conveyorbelt 25 driven by rolls 26 journaled in brackets Each box is car,- riedby conveyor belt 25 to the box collapsing unit where the walls of thebox are folded inwardly to lie parallel with the bottom section of theblank. v

The box collapsing mechanism is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10and 11. Folder plates 29 and 29a and levers 33 are secured to shafts 30which are slidably mounted in slots 3| provided in brackets 32 securedto frame I. Connecting the collapsing operation.

links 34 each have one end thereof operatively secured to thecorresponding lever 33 and its other end operatively secured to theouter end of the corresponding crank lever 35. The hub of each cranklever 35 being secured to a shaft 36 rotatably mounted in thecorresponding bracket 31 secured to frame I. Also secured to each ofsaid shafts 36 is a pulley 36a which may be rotated by any suitablemeans to operate the box collapsing mechanism. At the beginning of thebox collapsing operation the folderplates 23 and 29a are in verticalposition (Fig. 9). With the rotation of pulleys. 360. the folder platesare turned inwardly to horizontal position by the operation of levers 33and 35 and connecting links 34, as shown in Figure 10. The furtherturning of pulleys 36a co-operating with levers 33 and 35 and.connecting links 34 serves to withdraw the folder plates from contactwith the box after After this last mentioned operation, the boxcollapsing mechanism is in the condition illustrated by Figure 11. Fromthis position (Fig. 11) the further turning of pulleys 35a causes thefolder plates to return to vertical position (Fig. 9) ready to operateon the next box. v

In the operation of the box collapsing unit (Figs.

1. The method of making collapsed paper boxes from blanks which are cutand creased'to provide a bottom section, side walls-having side wallextensions and extension flaps at the ends thereof, and end walls havingend wall extensions and end wall extension flaps; said method consistingof applying adhesive to predetermined areas-.of'

the blank, folding upwards the side wall extensions and side wallextension flaps, folding the side walls to vertical position, andfolding the end walls to vertical position and folding the end wallextensions and end wall extension flaps against corresponding areas ofthe side walls; and

thereafter folding the side walls and end walls inwardly to lie parallelwith the bottom section of the box. 3

2. The method of making collapsed paper boxes from blanks which are cutand creased to provide a bottom section, a pair of side walls havingside wall extensions and extension flaps at the ends thereof, a pair ofend walls having and wall extensions and extension flaps at the endsthereof; said method consisting of folding upwardly l, 2, 3, 4, 9, l0and 11) each set-up box is carried by conveyor belt 25 to a positionbetween the two sets of folder plates 29 and 29a. The side walls of thebox being adjacent to the corresponding folder plates. It will beobserved that the said folder plates are so designed that they do notcontact the end wall extension sections j which lie adjacent to the sidewalls of the box. The reason for this construction of the folder platesis that the end wall extension sections i must be free to fold backagainst the corresponding end wall extension flaps y when the box is infiat folded condition, as illustrated by Figures 26 and 27.

The folder plates 29 and 29a operate to cola lapse the set-up box bypressing the side walls inwardly and downwardly upon the bottom sectiona of the box. In so folding the side walls,

- the end walls d and e of the box are drawn inwardly because of theirconnection with the end wall extensions j which are secured to said sidewalls by means of the end wall extension flaps g. The folder plates 29and 29a will, at this;

cycle of the operation, overlie side walls b and c and end wallextension flaps g, and lie under end wall extensions f of the box. Thenext operation serves to withdraw the folder plates from contact withthe collapsed box and return said folder plates to vertical position foroperating on another box.

In some cases it will be desirable in the opthe side wall extensions andside wall extension flaps, then folding the side walls to verticalposition, and thereafter folding the end walls to vertical position andfolding the end wall' extensions and end wall extension flaps againstcorresponding areas of the side walls, and thereafter folding the sidewalls and end walls inwardly to lie parallel with the bottom section ofthe box.

3. The method of making paper boxes from blanks which are 'cut andcreased to provide a bottom section, side walls having side wallextensions and extension flaps at the ends thereof, and end walls havingend wall extensions and end wall extension flaps; said method consistingof folding the side wall extensions andside wall extension flaps tovertical position, folding the side walls upwards at right angles to thebottom section, then folding the end walls and end wall extensions andend wall extension flaps to vertibottom section, then folding the endwalls and eration of the box collapsing mechanism to add a a device forpressing the end walls of the box outwardly during the first movement ofthe wall collapsing means. It will be apparent that when the side wallsare pressed inwardly, the end walls bend first outwardly and are thendrawn inwardly to overlie the ends of the side walls, as abovedescribed.

While the invention includes the combined instrumentalities abovementioned, we wish it to be understood that we consider the aforesaidmeans not only combinatively novel, but insofar as we are aware, certainof the devices going to make up such means are new in less combinationsthan the whole and some capable of individual use.

Having now described our invention, what we claim is:

cal position with the end wall extensions and end wall extension flapsparallel with the side walls.

4. The method of making collapsed paper boxes from blanks which arecut'and creased to provide a bottom section, side walls having side wallextensions and extension flaps at the ends thereof, and end walls havingend wall extensions and end wall extension flaps; said method consistingof applying adhesive to predetermined areas of the blank, folding theside wall extensions and side wall extension flaps to vertical position,folding the side walls upwards at right angles to the end wallextensions and end wall extension flaps to vertical position with theend wall extensions and end wall extension flaps parallel with the sidewalls, and thereafter folding the side walls and end walls inwardlyagainst the bottom section without creasing the side walls.

5. In a machine for making folded wall boxes from blanks which are cutand creased to provide a bottom section, side walls having sidewallextensions and extension flaps at the ends thereof, and end walls havingend wall extensions and end wall extension flaps; means for advancingprepared blanks, devicesv for applying adhesive to predetermined areasof the blank, a plunger cooperating with a stationary former die to foldand press the box blank to provide a box in set-up condition, anddevices operating to fold the walls against the bottom section toprovide a box in flat folded condition.

6. In a machine for making collapsed paper boxes from blanks which arecut and creased to provide a bottom section, side walls having side wallextensions and extension flaps at the ends thereof, and end walls havingend wall extensions and end wall extension flaps; means for advancingthe prepared blanks, devices for applying adhesive to predeterminedareas of each blank; means for folding the side wall extensions and sidewall extension flaps to vertical position and for .folding the sidewalls upwards at right angles to the bottom section, and means forfolding the end walls and end wall extensions and end wall extensionflaps to vertical position with the end wall extensions and end wallextension flaps parallel with the side walls; folder plates foroperating on predetermined areas of the side walls of the set-up box tofold the walls thereof inwardly against the bottom section.

'7. In a machine for making and collapsing paper boxes from blanks whichare cut and creased to provide a bottom section, side walls having sidewall extensions and extension flaps at the ends thereof, and end wallshaving end wall extensions and end wall extension flaps; means foradvancing prepared blanks singly and successively from a supply table,an adhesive ap plying device for treating predetermined areas withadhesive, a plunger and former die for folding the blank to provide abox in set-up condition, a box collapsing device for folding the wallsof the box against the bottom section of the box.

MELVIN H. SIDEBOTHAM. ROSS A. HIMES.

